Maine-O's Head to NYC For Lobster Roll Rumble

CAMDEN, Maine (May, 2011) - The Camden Harbour Inn is getting ready to rumble, lobster roll style. On June 9, under the leadership of Chef Geoffroy Deconinck, Camden Harbour Inn will head to New York as Maine's only contender in Tasting Table's "Lobster Roll Rumble," a benefit for Share Our Strength.

"It is very exciting to be one of the restaurants at the Tasting Table's Lobster Roll Rumble," said Geoffroy Deconinck. "The Lobster Roll Rumble is a great way to introduce Camden and Maine to 1,000 people in New York while the guests enjoy Maine's most famous export." Chef Deconinck was invited to cook at the James Beard House earlier this year and was nominated by Food & Wine magazine for The People's Best New Chef award.

Chef Deconinck's Rumble entry will feature Maine lobster (of course!) straight off the coast of Camden, tossed in a light citrus mayonnaise with a house mix of herbs and spices on a toasted roll. The inn's restaurant will prepare over a 1000 lobster rolls for this event and in the hopes of serving the best lobster roll possible, everything from the mayonnaise to the roll will be made in house, using as many local ingredients as possible.

The Inn will be competing in juried and people's choice competitions. The "Lobster Jury" includes Harold Dieterle, Chef/Co-Owner of Perilla and Kin Shop; Katie Lee, Author/Food and Lifestyle Expert; Kyle MacLachlan, Actor/Owner Pursued By Bear Winery, and Martha Stewart, Founder Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia.

Raymond Brunyanszki co-owner Camden Harbour Inn and Natalie's says, " We are proud to represent Maine in this competition, attended by some of the best chefs in the United States. It is a compliment to our chef to be included and we are excited to showcase our commitment to culinary excellence to a New York audience."

Top-rated restaurants and well-known lobster roll purveyors from around the country will compete for the honor of Best Lobster Roll. The lineup includes: B&G Oysters (Boston), BLT Fish (New York, NY), Ditch Plains (New York, NY), GT Fish & Oyster (Chicago), Hank's Oyster Bar (Washington, D.C.), The Lamb's Club (New York, NY), Lobsta Truck (Los Angeles), Luke's Lobster (New York, NY), Lure Fishbar (New York, NY), Mary's Fish Camp (New York, NY), The Mermaid Inn (New York, NY), Nettie's Crab Shack (San Francisco), Old Port Lobster Shack (Redwood City, CA), Red Hook Lobster Pound (Brooklyn, NY), Shaw's Crab House (Chicago), and Jasper White's Summer Shack (Cambridge, MA).

The nationally acclaimed Camden Harbour Inn consistently receives praise from publications such as Departures, Travel & Leisure, National Geographic Traveler, Yankee Magazine, Sherman's Travel, and Dispatches for its world-class service and amenities and unparalleled views. Awarded among the 51 favorite splurges in the world by Sherman's Travel, the Inn attracts an upscale clientele who return often to experience one of New England's most tranquil, inspired and treasured settings.

The Inn's on-premise restaurant, Natalie's, has been called the finest gourmet eatery in Maine and was awarded Best French Restaurant in New England by opentable.com. Executive Chef Geoffroy Deconicnk was nominated by Food & Wine for People's Best New Chef Award 2011.

Natalie's offers Modern French cuisine with an emphasis on Maine seafood. The Wine Spectator-honored wine list features more than 200 specialty wines. The restaurant serves a four course Lobster Tasting menu in the summer and fall, in addition to extensive a la carte offerings and a Chef's Tasting menu

The Inn and Natalie's have both earned the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award and the Inn is a member of Cond� Nast Johansens.

More information on the rumble can be found at http://tastingtable.com/rumble/rumble-home.html.